Free Dog Training Applied Learning Theory Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

A dog trainer is teaching a 'sit' command. Every time the dog successfully sits, it immediately receives a small treat. Which schedule of reinforcement is being used?

Accepted Answer

Continuous Reinforcement

Answer

Continuous Reinforcement (CR) is a schedule where every instance of a desired behavior is reinforced. This method is highly effective for teaching new behaviors because it creates a clear and immediate association between the action and the reward.

Question 2

A dog has learned to run to the door when it hears a specific doorbell sound. Now, it also runs to the door when it hears a similar, but not identical, sound from a television show. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Stimulus Generalization

Answer

Stimulus Generalization occurs when a response that has been conditioned to a specific stimulus is also elicited by other, similar stimuli. The dog has generalized its 'run to the door' response from the actual doorbell to a similar-sounding stimulus.

Question 3

To stop a dog from jumping on guests, the owner turns and walks away, ignoring the dog each time it jumps. The dog's jumping behavior decreases over time. Which of the four quadrants of operant conditioning does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Negative Punishment

Answer

This is an example of Negative Punishment. Something the dog desires (attention from the owner) is removed ('negative') to decrease the likelihood of the jumping behavior ('punishment').

Question 4

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A dog begins to salivate and get excited at the sound of the treat bag rustling, before any treat is visible.

Answer

Classical conditioning (or Pavlovian conditioning) involves forming an association between two stimuli, resulting in a learned response. The dog has learned to associate the neutral stimulus (the sound of the bag) with the unconditioned stimulus (the treat), causing a conditioned response (salivation and excitement).

Question 5

A dog that previously received a treat for barking at the mail carrier no longer receives a treat for this behavior. Initially, the dog's barking increases in intensity before it starts to fade. This temporary increase in the behavior is known as:

Accepted Answer

An extinction burst

Answer

An extinction burst is a common phenomenon during the extinction process where the frequency or intensity of the behavior temporarily increases before it begins to decrease. The dog increases its barking in an attempt to make the reinforcement (the treat) reappear.

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Free Dog Training Applied Learning Theory Questions and Answers 1